Knitting for the bump

I haven't done any knitting for ages. I have been slogging to get Backstitch up and running and craft-wise I have been beavering away on some projects that will be for the Backstitch blog.

But a couple of days ago I picked up the needles again.

I am 31 weeks pregnant and really getting quite big now. Getting to the stage where I am not just moving slowly, but trying to move less too. And although this goes against my nature, I have realised that moving less and knitting make a winning combination.

Now, this poor little baby that is wriggling away inside me hasn't been crafted anything yet (actually that's not exactly true, but near enough) so a small red cardigan is on the needles.

The pattern is a free one (God bless Ravelry), and is available here. This is the link to my project in Ravelry.

As we don't know what flavour this baby will be I am knitting it in a nice universal red, and shall be using a big brown wooden button, yet to be purchased, as the feature. I think the cardi has a pretty unisex shape too.

Hooray for knitting!

Backstitch goes live!

Well, whoever would have thought I would do this?!! I've only gone and done it though...
Backstitch the online store selling fabric and patterns opened it's virtual doors yesterday.

I hope you like it... it has taken some time and some more effort, but I am pleased with the result.

Please feel free to spread the word!

Kenwood love

I am in love with a machine. After several years of hankering, I came across this beauty at a car boot sale a couple of weeks ago. The man wanted £30 for it... a fair price. I, as is typical, came to the boot sale unprepared for large purchases. Just before heading home B and I scrabbled together our pennies and I was able to offer him £17. I think he could see the desperation in my eyes.

Mil and I made cakes. I think we might be making cakes more often.

3 years

Last week, our little boy turned 3. That's 3 mad years of parenting.



And, biased I might be, but I think he's lovely.

Scarlet fever/ tonsillitus/ double ear infection

Our little boy has been lost in a world of poorly... for almost 2 weeks now. First scarlet fever, and now tonsillitis and a double ear infection. He is just starting his second round of antibiotics, and is dosed up with painkillers.

He is not himself at all and I want him back... I miss him.

So, not much of anything going on around here other than getting through the days and nights and hoping that things improve and that our fun-loving, creative and thoughtful boy comes back soon.

I love my ironing board

So, ages and ages ago I picked up an old wooden ironing board from a car boot sale for £2. Yes! A whole two pounds. Up until this point I was using a duvet cover laid out on my cutting table.

The ironing board was grubby and with rusty bits and the cover, if you could call it that, was pinned on very badly with multi-coloured drawing pins. Also, when you ironed it gave off a nasty whiff... Nice. I did take some before pictures, but it was so long ago that I cannot find them.

It took me ages and ages to recover it, and I have been doing it in stages, but it is complete. I stripped it down and beeswaxed the wood, tacked on some new luscious thick felt, and have just recently added some jolly red canvas.


Ta-da! One brand new spanking delicious ironing board.


I love it.

Edited to ad: Can I just make it clear that I only iron for sewing purposes, oh, and weddings and interviews. I didn't want anyone getting the wrong idea about me and ironing.

Oooooh, and I have been very slack. A few weeks ago, Petit Filoux awarded me my very first blogging award. A Sunshine Award. It is 'awarded to bloggers whose positivity & creativity inspires others in the blog world'... do you hear that? Can you imagine!

Well, I am dead chuffed, thank you Petit Filoux, and sorry for being so slow with my response... real life has been getting in the way of this one.

I am going to be a bit naughty and not pass it on, but please do all have a look over on the right there and take a look at a few of the very many blogs that I follow. And go and check out Petit Filoux... that girl is a whirlwind of creativity.

And, bring on the sunshine.

my mate for life

Happy Valentine's everyone. We don't really celebrate Valentine's day in this house with any seriousness. Occasionally, if the other is lucky we might present a card. Like a lot of the world we try to celebrate our love and togetherness in small ways every day, and rather rebel at being told to show love.


However, I did feel compelled to make my love a small lavender pillow to keep his smalls scented. With a heart on one side and a swallow on the other. As well as some rather dubious homo erotic and criminal meanings, swallows also symbolise love and loyalty as they choose a mate for life.

And B? He made bagels... what more could a girl ask for?